ironmaidenlewes
Trooper
What was the debacle?
TheTalisman
Ancient Mariner
This is the album that Blaze and Thomas Zwijsen co-wrote and recorded together. It's one of the worst sounding records I have heard a professional artist put out and I think that Blaze expected more to come out of this collaboration.
Zwijsen couldn't play the old stuff live accurate at all either, his playing featured a lot out of tune bends and overall unclean playing all the time.
Thankfully, Blaze never hired him to play electric guitar for him again after that album and tour.
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Ruflux
Ancient Marinade
Uh, no offense, but it sounds miles better than certain albums Blaze has sung on. In fact the most obvious issue I immediately notice is Blaze's rather vague sense of pitch. I can believe that Zwijsen might not be much of a guitarist in the electric realm but it seems strange to roll the blame on to him for what sounds like an all around "meh" record, at least if you listen to the original version in stereo instead of some rando's "HD" mono pile of shit rip.
TheTalisman
Ancient Mariner
"Miles better" really, which albums? And the mix on that youtube version is not much different from the CD.
Blaze is actually a really good rock singer. I don't hear any pitch issues when he performs on the right type of material.
The "Doctor Doctor" cover is another highlight:
He has got a really strong voice.
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CA Bryers
Ancient Mariner
I'm glad and very surprised he bounced back too. The King of Metal album and that era "between bands" was rock bottom for his solo career. I saw him in the Twin Cities (in Minnesota) in 2011 using local musicians as a backing band, and I doubt there were 25 people there. Even so, reaaaally glad I went. Blaze put on a crazy good show, sang his ass off, and performed his ass off, totally unfazed by the size of the crowd (little did I know at the time that it was probably the norm around then).
And yeah, the King of Metal. Poor production, uninspired songs, the absolute low point of his career. Getting Mark Appleton to manage and Absolva to back him was a godsend. They'll never be huge, but it's a great setup that has produced four pretty great albums.
ironmaidenlewes
Trooper
Thanks for explaining. I followed Blaze up until Blood and Belief and then again for the Trilogy (and beyond)...I didn't follow the middle bit at all.
I've since listened to The Man Who Would Not Die and Promise and Terror a few times. I quite like them and especially on the former, I think there are a few catchy songs. What do you think of those two albums? (I'm not going to rush out and get the King of Metal!)
TheTalisman
Ancient Mariner
Production is a bit to heavy for Blaze I think (guitars and bass have basically the same sound as the Bermudez brothers own death metal band, Underthreat). Blaze's vocals maybe are a bit strained at times too, but they are still good albums with lots of strong songs. I listen to them from time to time.
Then there are actually some excellent parts in the songs too, take for the example middle section in Samurai (3:04 and onwards):
Time To Dare from Promise and Terror is another favourite of mine.
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MindRuler
Ancient Mariner
I´m not fond of the heavier sound, there are some interesting songs (Samurai) but as a whole those albums are not as strong as his first three.
Silicon Messiah was a terrific debut album, the sophomore concept album Tenth Dimension a splendid second. Blood & Belief might look abit pale in comparison but contains amazing songs.
koponto
Nomad
I started following Blaze around TMWWND, and really dig the heavier sound. Was super glad to hear The Man Who Would Not Die and Watching the Night Sky live the last time Blaze played in Helsinki - adding Luke to the band means they can now pull off some songs they couldn't with just one guitar.
The last four songs off Promise & Terror are career-highlight stuff for me. Heavy, melancholy and beautiful set of songs that fit together perfectly, and don't get the attention they deserve.
The last four songs off Promise & Terror are career-highlight stuff for me. Heavy, melancholy and beautiful set of songs that fit together perfectly, and don't get the attention they deserve.
TheMercenary
Ancient Mariner
That's why Blaze's new live record which will be released in June has a heavier sound. To become a 5 pieces band was a great idea from Blaze.
GhostofCain
Ancient Mariner
I like The Man Who Would Not Die more than Blood & Belief, but nothing Blaze has ever done comes close to Silicon Messiah and Tenth Dimension.
srfc
Ancient Mariner
Ditto, I quite like Promise and Terror that would be my third choice, but I lost faith when he let that line up fall apart again and when the next thing he did was a cringey tribute to Diamond Darrell I stopped caring. I've checked some of the stuff occassionally when people post it here, but it seems amateurish compared to the first couple of albums, and it's sad to see that that material make up the bulk of his sets these days.
What ever limitations Blaze has as a vocalist, I think his poor decision making skills have been a much bigger hindrance on his career. The band he had for those first 3 albums effectively dropped him which is bizarre as they were all unknowns.
koponto
Nomad
Blood & Belief suffers a bit from the production IMO, but there are great songs on there as well. Regret is one of my favourite Blaze songs, ever.
Soundtrack of my Life, Life and Death, Tearing Yourself to Pieces are awesome as well. Think he writes better lyrics when they are personal, as opposed to the scifi stuff for example.
Soundtrack of my Life, Life and Death, Tearing Yourself to Pieces are awesome as well. Think he writes better lyrics when they are personal, as opposed to the scifi stuff for example.
MindRuler
Ancient Mariner
Agreed!
efekåseo_suomi
Ancient Mariner
I guess you have to thank Jon Schaffer for participating in the 2021 Capitol attack. I'm sure Luke would still be touring with Iced Earth otherwise!
Kalata
Out of the Silent Planet
I like the direction of his latest album and the recent Trilogy (Part I & Part II are great) - melodic and almost power metal feel. I'm not a fan of his albums with the heavier sound. The best songs are from his early albums though.
Edit: If I have to list some of the songs I like the most:
2000: Ghost In The Machine, Born As A Stranger, The Brave, The Launch, Stare At The Sun
2002: Kill And Destroy, End Dream, The Tenth Dimension, Meant To Be, Speed Of Light
2004: Regret, Will To Win
2008: Samurai, Waiting For My Life To Begin
2010: God Of Speed, City Of Bones, Time To Dare
2016: Infinite Entanglement, A Thousand Years, Human, Calling You Home
2017: Endure And Survive, Escape Velocity, Blood, Eating Lies, Fight Back, The World Is Turning The Wrong Way
2018: Prayers Of Light, The Dark Side Of Black, Eagle Spirit
2021: War Within Me, 303, Warrior, Witches Night, 18 Flights, The Power Of Nikola Tesla
2002: Kill And Destroy, End Dream, The Tenth Dimension, Meant To Be, Speed Of Light
2004: Regret, Will To Win
2008: Samurai, Waiting For My Life To Begin
2010: God Of Speed, City Of Bones, Time To Dare
2016: Infinite Entanglement, A Thousand Years, Human, Calling You Home
2017: Endure And Survive, Escape Velocity, Blood, Eating Lies, Fight Back, The World Is Turning The Wrong Way
2018: Prayers Of Light, The Dark Side Of Black, Eagle Spirit
2021: War Within Me, 303, Warrior, Witches Night, 18 Flights, The Power Of Nikola Tesla
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TheMercenary
Ancient Mariner
Well, I won't thank Jon Schaffer for doing something illegal. But, Iced Earth was already dead to me since 'The Glorious Burden', the last good album, IMHO.
CA Bryers
Ancient Mariner
I think the early lineup basically saw the writing on the wall--even though they were unknowns, they saw that the Blaze band was never going to be a big thing. Even back then they had VERY small crowds at many shows, according to their accounts in the At the End of the Day biography. It's too bad, they wrote great songs together, with the peak (IMO) being Tenth Dimension. Silicon's good too, but has a few "filler" songs. Tenth I consider strong throughout. I often forget a little about Blood & Belief, but whenever I go back to it, it's got loads of great songs.
As for the "Bermudez brothers" era, I kind of agree above that the heavier sound doesn't suit Blaze incredibly well, but it does work on several tracks. I still can't get into Promise & Terror at all (unlike most people on here), but it does have a couple good songs.
I almost wonder if it was more an idea from management (Mark Appleton) than Blaze's, to get Luke Appleton some extra work. Doesn't really matter either way, I'm looking forward to hearing that extra guitar on the new album.
koponto
Nomad
Luke was already involved in a couple albums (background vocals etc) prior to his official addition to the band.
As well as opening up for them solo, then performing with the band on several occasions - think I saw a show where he was onstage for the last six songs or so. And it doesn't hurt that the lead guitar player is his brother and the manager is his father
AND he is of course in Absolva, so it's an easy transition as he's already played with the guys for years.
As well as opening up for them solo, then performing with the band on several occasions - think I saw a show where he was onstage for the last six songs or so. And it doesn't hurt that the lead guitar player is his brother and the manager is his father
AND he is of course in Absolva, so it's an easy transition as he's already played with the guys for years.
srfc
Ancient Mariner
I saw them at a gig on the Blood and Belief tour, and even now the main Dublin metal promoter still moans about how much money he lost on it. There was about 60 people in a venue that could hold 600. I was in the front row and could leave it during the gig and go to the bar/toilet and walk back to the same spot afterwards.
EDIT: Also agree that Tenth is the much more complete album